Vietnam President To Lam arrived in the national capital on Tuesday, marking the beginning of his first State Visit to India since assuming office earlier this month.
He was received at the airport by Union Minister Nityanand Rai and accorded a warm welcome.
Earlier in the day, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary welcomed the visiting dignitary in Gaya, describing the visit as an opportunity to further strengthen ties between the two nations.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit comes at a time when India and Vietnam are marking ten years of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the visit will further deepen the multifaceted and robust bilateral relationship.
President To Lam, who also serves as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, will remain in India till May 7. He is scheduled to receive a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.
During the visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold wide-ranging talks with the Vietnamese leader, focusing on bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.
President Droupadi Murmu will also meet President To Lam, while several senior leaders are expected to call on him.
The Vietnamese President’s itinerary includes visits to Bodh Gaya and Mumbai, reflecting the cultural and economic dimensions of the India-Vietnam partnership.
The Ministry noted that the visit is expected to inject fresh momentum into bilateral ties and explore new avenues of cooperation. India and Vietnam share long-standing historical and civilisational links, with their relationship elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Vietnam in 2016.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had congratulated To Lam on his election, expressing confidence that the partnership between the two countries would continue to grow and contribute to regional progress and prosperity.
-ANI
